Department for Transport

Department for Transport: Brexit

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many officials in his Department have been seconded away from their normal duties to work on the UK's withdrawal from the EU; and what effect that secondment of staff has had on the effectiveness of his Department.

Chris Grayling: The Department has not historically collected information on the internal movement of staff to work on EU Exit and therefore does not hold this information centrally. The Department continually reviews workforce plans, reprioritises and assesses changing needs, which includes identification and cessation of non-priority work where appropriate to ensure the effective delivery of both EU Exit work and wider organisational priorities.

Transport: West Midlands

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to increase spending on transport infrastructure in the West Midlands.

Andrew Jones: The Government is investing heavily in better transport infrastructure for the West Midlands. We have committed around £115 million to two ‘large local major’ schemes, which are now under construction – the A4440 Worcester Southern Relief Road (Carrington Bridge) and the Birmingham Centenary Square tram extension - with more than £400m committed to a further nine road and public transport schemes in the West Midlands.HS2 is already playing a huge part of the Midlands’ success story, with work well under way at over 60 sites including major development at Curzon Street and Washwood Heath. It will put Birmingham at the heart of Britain’s new high speed network, including two stations within the Birmingham area. We have allocated £321.5m from the Transforming Cities Fund to West Midlands Combined Authority who are using it to build the Brierley Hill tram extension. On the strategic road network, Highways England has just started construction on widening the A500 Etruria Valley, a £17.5m investment.In Rail Control Period 5, we funded a number of schemes in the West Midlands, including the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street, upgrade and electrification of the Chase Line, and extension of the Cross City Line from Longbridge to Bromsgrove. We also provided £5m to Midlands Connect to develop a strategic outline business case for the Midlands Rail Hub programme. We expect this to be submitted to the Department in June 2019. In November 2018, the Infrastructure and Pipeline Authority published their Analysis of the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline. The regional analysis of the pipeline shows that over the period of 2018/19 - 2020/21, the West Midlands will receive £255 per person on average each year of planned central government transport investment, which is the 4th highest of the 9 regions and ahead of London.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2018 to Question 125528, Motor Vehicles: Carbon Emissions, for what reasons different systems are in place for tackling smoky and excessive exhaust emissions from (a) lorries and buses and (b) private cars and motorcycles.

Andrew Jones: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) reporting system outlined in the answer of 5 February to Question 125528 applies to lorries and buses, because some of DVSA’s powers and responsibilities are specific to lorries and buses. For example; the DVSA has powers in respect of the enforcement of commercial road transport offences but does not have the same enforcement powers in respect of private cars or motorcycles. In all cases it remains the user’s responsibility to ensure the vehicle continues to meet these emissions standards at all times while in use.

Shipping

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2019 to Question 252654, if he will list all Port Connectivity Study case study projects that are being progressed through the (a) Road Investment Strategies 1 and 2, (b) Control Period 6, (c) the Major Roads Network and (d) other funding route processes; and what the stage of development is for each scheme.

Andrew Jones: (a) The schemes listed below, mentioned in the “A Study of England’s Port Connectivity” report and “9 Regional case studies” report are being progressed through the current Road Investment Strategy:Scheme NameStage of DevelopmentA1 North of EllinghamUnder constructionA19/A1058 Coast RoadOpened March 2019A19 TestosUnder ConstructionA19 Down Hill Lane Junction ImprovementIn DevelopmentA19 Norton to WynyardIn developmentM62 J20-25In developmentA1 Leeming Bar and BartonOpened to traffic in March 2018A63: Castle Street HullIn developmentA160/A180 Improvements to ImminghamOpened to Traffic in March 2017A47 Wansford to SuttonIn DevelopmentA47 North Tuddenham to EastonIn DevelopmentA47 Blofield to North BurlinghamIn DevelopmentA47 Acle StraightCompletedA14 Cambridge to HuntingtonUnder ConstructionA12 Chelmsford to A120In developmentM25 Junction 30 (A13)Opened for traffic December 2016M2 Junction 5 (A249)In developmentA20 access at DoverCompletedA27 Worthing and LancingIn developmentA31 widening at RingwoodIn developmentM271/A35 Redbridge roundabout upgradeIn developmentM27 Southampton JunctionsIn developmentM3 Junction 9 ImprovementsIn developmentA34 Oxford JunctionsOptions DevelopmentM49 Avonmouth junctionUnder ConstructionA30 Temple to CarblakeOpened for Traffic July 2017A30 Chiverton to Carland CrossIn developmentM6, M60 and M62 smart motorwayOpened for traffic July 2018M6 Junctions 10a-13Opened to traffic February 2016M6 Junctions 16-19Opened to traffic March 2019M6 Junctions 21A-26In DevelopmentM60 Junctions 24-27 and Junction 1-4In DevelopmentM6 Junctions 2-4Under ConstructionM62 Junctions 10-12Under ConstructionM62 Junction 20-25In DevelopmentM6 Junction 22 UpgradeOptions DevelopmentA5 Dodwells to Longshoot wideningIn DevelopmentA5036 Princess Way – Access to Port of LiverpoolIn developmentLower Thames CrossingIn development In addition, the following two schemes are being funded through Highway England’s congestion relief fund:A63: Garrison RoadA69 Junction improvements The A120 improvement scheme has been developed by Essex County Council to be considered for potential inclusion in the second Road Investment Strategy. The Government intends to announce its decisions on further enhancement schemes in the second Road Investment Strategy later this year. The table below details schemes progressed through Control Period 6:Scheme RegionStatusDiversionary access for TeesportNorth East PortsTeesport – Northallerton Gauge: in developmentGauge clearance schemes to W12, connections to Immingham PortHumber PortsIn deliveryA range of capacity and gauge options identified along the Felixstowe to West Midlands corridorHaven PortsEly Area Capacity Scheme, Haughley Junction, Ely – Soham redoubling and Leicester area capacity are all in developmentFelixstowe branch lineHaven PortsIn deliveryThames Haven level crossing improvementsLondon and Medway PortsMucking level crossing: in delivery. Other interventions are in developmentImproved connections to Southampton maritime terminalSolent area PortsIn deliveryGauge clearance to W10 Bristol/BirminghamBristol and south west portsIn development (to Bristol / Cardiff – not Birmingham)Gauge clearance infill to W12Bristol and South West PortsSome sections completed in CP5 in conjunction with GWEP electrification works. Further locations in development in CP6.Bootle branch line improvementsMersey and North West PortsIn delivery (c) No Major Road Network schemes are included in the Port Connectivity Study. (d) The following schemes are being progressed or have been progressed through other funding route processes:Funding RouteProject NamePortStatusHighways Maintenance Challenge FundWirral Dock BridgesBirkenheadCompleted June 2018Large Local MajorsLake Lothing Third CrossingLowestoftDCO in preparationLarge Local MajorsGreat Yarmouth Third CrossingGreat YarmouthDCO in preparationLocal Growth FundPort of Workington Road AccessWorkingtonIn PreparationLocal Growth FundA185/A194/A19 Traffic Movements (A194/A185 The Arches Junction)Port of TyneCompletedLocal Growth FundA19/A194/A1300 Lindisfarne RoundaboutPort of TyneCompleted Summer 2017Local Growth FundA19 to North Bank of Tyne ImprovementsPort of TyneExpected to be in construction in 2020Local Growth FundRail Gauge Enhancements - Port of Immingham to ECML at DoncasterImminghamIn progress, expected completion date of 2021Local Growth FundSouth Bank Wharf roundabout and access improvementsTeesportBusiness Case being preparedLocal Growth FundA565 North Liverpool Key CorridorLiverpoolStart of Construction Spring 2017 and expected completion in 2019Local Growth FundPort of Poole Infrastructure – Poole Bridge Approach SpansPooleWork completed and bridge reopened January 2018Local Growth Fund (DfT ‘tail’ major schemeA180/A18 LinkImminghamCompleted June 2016DfT ‘tail’ major schemeHeysham-M6 Link RoadHeyshamCompleted October 2016Local Growth Fund (DfT Portfolio Scheme)Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor (Low Carbon Zone to City Centre to Port) – New Wear Bridge to City CentreSunderlandConstruction due to begin spring 2019, Estimated completion 2021Local Growth Fund (DfT Portfolio Scheme)Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor - New Wear CrossingSunderlandOpened 28 August 2018Regional Growth FundWestern Gateway Infrastructure SchemePort SalfordCompleted December 2017Local Growth Fund (DfT portfolio scheme)Newhaven Port Access Road, Parker Pen & East SideNewhavenUnder constructionLocal Growth Fund (DfT Portfolio Scheme)Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor (Low Carbon Zone to City Centre to Port) – New Wear Bridge to City Centre Construction due to begin spring 2019, estimated completion 2021Local Growth Fund (DfT portfolio scheme)Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor - New Wear CrossingSunderlandOpened 28 August 2018Local Growth Fund (DfT portfolio scheme)A13 WideningLondon GatewayAdvance works commenced. Estimated completion Winter 2020/21.Regional Growth FundWestern Gateway Infrastructure SchemePort SalfordCompleted December 2017

Roads: Deer

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent accidents on the road as a result of deer.

Andrew Jones: Local authorities have the power to erect traffic warning signs in environments which could pose a road safety risk, including to warn of the presence of large wild animals such as deer. It is for local authorities to determine if a sign is required at individual locations.

Newmarket Station

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the horse racing industry on the expansion of Newmarket railway station.

Andrew Jones: Discussions have taken place between DfT and Greater Anglia (GA) the local train operating company (TOC) about the rail capacity on race days. Currently1, 2 and 3 car trains service the Ipswich to Cambridge route. GA will have new 4-carriage bi-mode trains on this route by the end of the year, which will provide even more flexibility and capacity for all passengers on this route including race days.

Blue Badge Scheme

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February to Question 218834, what progress has been made in revising the statutory regulations on the Blue Badge scheme; and what the timetable is for publishing the associated guidance.

Andrew Jones: On 30th April, the Department for Transport laid The Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019 No. 891). The changes being introduced under the expanded Blue Badge eligibility criteria for non-physical disabilities will come into force on 30th August 2019.   The Department for Transport is currently finalising the guidance necessary for local authorities to assess the new types of applications, which it plans to publish shortly.

Network Rail: Property

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the potential administrative costs that will be incurred by Network Rail in its ongoing relationship with the new owner of the railway arches property portfolio.

Andrew Jones: The historic cost of securing access to property for inspection and maintenance work related to the operation of the railway has been around £1 million a year. These costs are expected to continue.

Electric Vehicles: Fuel Cells

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles on UK roads.

Andrew Jones: Hydrogen fuel cells in vehicles is an exciting technology with the potential to revolutionise transport. Though the number of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles on UK roads is still in the early hundreds, we have seen some exciting developments with the technology. The Mayor of London recently announced the first fleet of hydrogen double decker buses in the world and a number of companies are also developing hydrogen fuelled trains which may one day run up and down our network. We are committed to working with industry to identify how we can use hydrogen-powered vehicles to decarbonise our future transport system.

Safety Belts

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps to increase seat belt wearing; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: Since wearing seatbelts became mandatory in 1983, there has been a sharp fall in the total number of people killed while driving. Seat belts save lives and the laws we have in place requiring people to wear seat belts are there to save lives. We are grateful to PACTS for looking in considerable detail at what lies behind the disproportionately high number of people incurring fatal injuries while not wearing seat belts. We are currently considering their recommendations and the range of tools at our disposal to increase seatbelt wearing.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Boilers: Natural Gas

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to implement the Government's proposed ban on the installation of gas boilers in new homes in 2025.

Chris Skidmore: By 2025, the Government will introduce a Future Homes Standard for new build homes to be future-proofed with low carbon heating and world leading levels of energy efficiency, to create healthy homes that are fit for the future, have low energy bills, and are better for the environment. We will explore the details of the planned introduction of the Future Homes Standard within the 2019 consultation on the energy efficiency standards of the Building Regulations.

Energy Companies Obligation: Insulation

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to increase the rate of delivery of insulation measures under the Energy Company Obligation.

Chris Skidmore: The Department keeps delivery progress in constant review. ECO3 is a three and a half year scheme and obligated suppliers may deliver the obligation at any time during the obligation period. Historically, delivery has been low at the start of each scheme while suppliers end one obligation period and start to build up momentum under the new scheme rules.The scheme allows participating Local Authorities to determine eligibility and refer households to obligated suppliers, and in those cases removing the need for suppliers to target eligible households. This is a voluntary mechanism for suppliers to use, and it equates to up to 25% of ECO.The regulations have been in force for less than six months, and there is time for suppliers to increase delivery rate up to the end of the scheme in March 2022.Almost 2.5m insulation, heating and other measures have been delivered since ECO began in 2013. Of those 66% were for insulation. Under ECO3, so far over 54k measures have been installed. Of those, 55% were for insulation.

Energy Performance Certificates: Housing

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of progress towards its ambition of ensuring that all homes achieve an Energy Performance Certificate rating of Band C by 2015, as set out in the Clean Growth Strategy.

Chris Skidmore: For the purpose of this response, I assume that the question is referring to the ambition for homes to reach Band C by 2035, rather than 2015. Good progress has already been made improving the energy performance of our housing stock, with 30% of homes in England at Band C or above, with a further 51% already at Band D, according to the 2017 English Housing Survey. This is up from 7% and 40% respectively in 2007.Since the publication of the Clean Growth Strategy we have:Reformed the Energy Company Obligation to focus on those households in or at risk of fuel povertyIssued a call for evidence on building a market for energy efficiency, on which we will set out more detail in the forthcoming Green Finance Strategy and Energy White PaperIntroduced regulations on 1st April 2018 which require landlords to bring their properties to EPC Band E or above, and amended these further to require a contribution of up to £3,500 from landlords towards the cost of improvements from 1st April 2019.Launched supply chain pilots in six local areas focusing on building capacity and reducing costsLaunched a new digital service, Simple Energy Advice, to provide impartial and tailored advice to homeowners and tenants.Worked with industry to launch a new quality mark for home energy improvements, implementing the recommendations of the independent Each Home Counts reviewEstablished a £10 million innovation project to reduce the cost of whole house retrofit.

Energy Companies Obligation: Insulation

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many households have been fitted with (a) cavity wall and (b) loft insulation under the Energy Company Obligation since the beginning of the ECO3 obligation period on 3 December 2018.

Chris Skidmore: Since the start of the ECO3 obligation, 14,983 cavity wall insulations and 10,951 loft insulations have been installed in homes up to the end of March 2019.

Fossil Fuels: Surveying

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Oil and Gas Authority’s proposed supplemental guidance for the Disclosure of certain Geophysical Survey Data (created or acquired under an Exploration Licence pre-2018) published in March 2019, whether the impact assessment included a full assessment of the effect of that guidance on geophysical companies based in the UK.

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Oil and Gas Authority’s proposed supplemental guidance on the disclosure of certain Geophysical Survey Data (created or acquired under an Exploration Licence pre-2018) published in March 2019, what assessment his Department has made of the compatibility with the rule of law of the retrospective application of that guidance.

Chris Skidmore: The treatment of legacy geophysical survey data is a matter for the independent oil and gas regulator, the Oil and Gas Authority, which ran a consultation exercise on the issue to which it will respond later this year.

Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

Colin Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the cost to his Department has been of the Renewable Heat Incentive, and what assessment he has made of the value for money of that incentive.

Chris Skidmore: Payments to participants on the Renewable Heat Incentive are funded through Annual Management Expenditure (AME) rather than Department Expenditure (DEL). Once all heat readings are submitted, we expect the cumulative AME spend on the RHI to the end of 2018/19 to be approximately £2.68bn.Ofgem e-Serve administers the scheme on behalf of the Department alongside a number of other schemes. Funding for delivering those schemes was just over £19 million in 2018/19.In relation to value for money, this is assessed as part of regular Impact Assessments, the last of which was published in February 2018.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Yemen: Military Intervention

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the bombings at (a) a Sanaa school on 7 April 2019, (b) a Save the Children-supported hospital on 26 March 2019 and (c) other bombings of civilian infrastructure in Yemen, what discussions he has had with his Saudi counterpart on the timeframe for the conclusion of the Saudi-led Coalition’s investigations into those incidents; and whether the results of those investigations will be made publicly available.

Dr Andrew Murrison: We are deeply concerned by reports of an alleged airstrike on a petrol station at a hospital facility on 26 March 2019. Our officials have been in contact with Save the Children, who fund the hospital, about this alleged incident and have raised this matter with the Saudi-led Coalition, who have announced an investigation.We are also deeply concerned at reports of an explosion at a warehouse near two schools in Sa’wan on 7 April 2019. We have raised the incident with the Coalition who have announced an investigation in line with standard practices. We endorse the statement of the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General of 9 April and continue to call on all parties to the conflict in Yemen to exercise restraint, comply fully with international humanitarian law and implement the Stockholm Agreement without delay in order to improve the humanitarian situation in Yemen.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure that deconflicted (a) hospitals and (b) schools in Yemen are protected from bombing.

Dr Andrew Murrison: We have been clear that all parties to the conflict in Yemen must comply with international humanitarian law. We continue to call on all parties to exercise restraint and implement the Stockholm Agreement without delay in order to improve the humanitarian situation in Yemen

Cameroon: Humanitarian Aid

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian crisis in the Anglophone region of Cameroon.

Harriett Baldwin: The UK remains deeply concerned at the worsening humanitarian situation in the North-West and South-West (Anglophone) regions of Cameroon and reports of human rights violations and abuses committed by both security forces and armed separatists. Violence is driving people from their homes and impacting on the lives of ordinary civilians, particularly women and children. The UN assesses that over 530,000 people have been internally displaced as a result of the conflict and has recorded over 35,000 refugees in Nigeria. The UK is providing lifesaving assistance to thousands of people following a £2.5m contribution in December 2018 to the UN emergency appeal to address the crisis.The UK welcomes the visit to Cameroon by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Government of Cameroon's reported openness to working with the UN to address the severe humanitarian and human rights situation in the Anglophone regions. It is imperative that urgent action is now taken by the Government of Cameroon, with the support of regional partners and the wider international community, to prevent further escalation of the crisis. This includes the establishment of a credible political dialogue to address the root causes of the crisis. The UK stands ready to support.The British Government regularly raises concerns about Cameroon at the highest levels including at the UN Security Council on 13 May and when I met with Cameroon's High Commissioner to the UK on 30 April. The UK continues to call for unhindered humanitarian access to affected populations, an end to violence on all sides and investigations into all reports of human rights violations and abuses.

Cameroon: Internally Displaced People

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the merits of the findings of the UN human rights high commissioner that there is a window of opportunity to arrest the crises that have led to hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people in Cameroon.

Harriett Baldwin: ​The UK remains deeply concerned at the worsening humanitarian situation in the North-West and South-West (Anglophone) regions of Cameroon and reports of human rights violations and abuses committed by both security forces and armed separatists. Violence is driving people from their homes and impacting on the lives of ordinary civilians, particularly women and children. The UN assesses that over 530,000 people have been internally displaced as a result of the conflict and has recorded over 35,000 refugees in Nigeria. The UK is providing lifesaving assistance to thousands of people following a £2.5m contribution in December 2018 to the UN emergency appeal to address the crisis.The UK welcomes the visit to Cameroon by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Government of Cameroon's reported openness to working with the UN to address the severe humanitarian and human rights situation in the Anglophone regions. It is imperative that urgent action is now taken by the Government of Cameroon, with the support of regional partners and the wider international community, to prevent further escalation of the crisis. This includes the establishment of a credible political dialogue to address the root causes of the crisis. The UK stands ready to support.The British Government regularly raises concerns about Cameroon at the highest levels including at the UN Security Council on 13 May and when I met with Cameroon's High Commissioner to the UK on 30 April. The UK continues to call for unhindered humanitarian access to affected populations, an end to violence on all sides and investigations into all reports of human rights violations and abuses.

Sudan: Demonstrations

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the recent use of live ammunition by Sudanese security forces against protesters in Khartoum.

Harriett Baldwin: The UK is extremely concerned by the use of live ammunition by Sudanese security forces against protestors in Khartoum on 13 and 15 May, and by reports of injuries and fatalities. We call for those responsible to be held to account. Since protests began in December 2018, the UK has consistently raised our concerns at the use of violence in response to peaceful protests. As part of the Troika (US, UK and Norway) we made a statement on 21 May calling for a swift, orderly and peaceful civilian-led transfer of power that respects the will of the Sudanese people.

Elections: Monitoring

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has for UK participation in non-European country election monitoring after the UK leaves the EU.

Mark Field: ​UK officials and private citizens take part in electoral observation missions organised by international organisations such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Commonwealth and the EU. The Government does not organise such missions unilaterally. After the UK has left the EU, UK officials and private citizens will continue to take part in electoral observation missions organised by international organisations of which the UK is a member or is otherwise eligible to participate.

Israel: Palestinians

Colin Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the key obstacles to peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Dr Andrew Murrison: ​We consistently call for an immediate end to all actions that act as key obstacles to peace and undermine the viability of the two-state solution, including terrorism, anti-Semitic incitement, settlement expansion, demolitions in the West Bank and the dire situation in Gaza.. We continue to believe the best way to achieve this is through direct negotiations between the parties, supported by the international community, leading towards a two-state solution with Jerusalem as a shared capital.

Togo: Foreign Relations

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps he has taken to develop the UK Government's relationship with Togo.

Harriett Baldwin: The British Government does not have diplomatic representation in Togo. Our non-Resident Ambassador – the British High Commissioner to Accra – provides our diplomatic representation and recently received accreditation from the Government of Togo. In March, our Honorary Consul also received accreditation. This progress demonstrates the strengthening of our bilateral relationship with Togo and enables us to progress our relationship further.Our non-Resident Ambassador has discussed how the UK-Togo relationship can expand with President Gnassingbé, specifically concerning economic development and improved trade links.

Department for Education

Children: Day Care

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing financial assistance to enable (a) low-income and (b) single-unit families to cover childcare costs during the school summer holidays.

Nadhim Zahawi: The government has taken significant steps to raise the living standards of low-income and single-unit families. This includes raising the minimum wage, raising the personal tax allowance and improving financial incentives to work.To support parents into work, the government spends £6 billion on childcare each year:Doubling free childcare to 30 hours a week for nearly 400,000 working parents of 3 and 4-year olds.Introducing tax-free childcare, worth up to £2,000 per child per year.With Universal Credit, parents can claim up to 85% of their childcare costs back compared to 70% on the legacy benefit system.We recently announced £9 million of funding for the 2019 summer holidays where we will be exploring how the local coordination of the provision of nutritious food and enriching and healthy activities can help more disadvantaged pupils to access free high quality holiday club provision during the school holidays in 11 areas across the country.

Children: Social Services

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many adopted children have (a) a child in need plan and (b) a child protection plan.

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children cared for under a special guardianship order have (a) a child in need plan and (b) a child protection plan.

Nadhim Zahawi: The information requested is not held centrally in the form requested. The department publishes information on the number of children who have ceased to be looked after through adoption or under a special guardianship order each year in table D1 of the Statistical Release ‘Children looked after in England including adoptions: 2017 to 2018’, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2017-to-2018.This data does not include information on children in need or child protection plans. Information on children in need and child protection plans is collected separately as part of the children in need census.

Children's Play

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reasons children’s play is not prioritized in the five foundations for building character.

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the audit of out of school activities will include playing outside.

Nadhim Zahawi: World-class education is not only about having the highest standards in academic and technical education, it also means ensuring that education builds character and resilience.We want all children and young people to have opportunities to develop the key character traits of believing that they can achieve, being able to stick with the task in hand, seeing a link between effort today and reward in the future, and being able to bounce back from the knocks that life inevitably brings to all of us. Character must also be grounded in positive values such as kindness, generosity, fairness, tolerance and integrity.The 5 Foundations for Building Character announced on 7 February by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education are sport, creativity, performing, volunteering and membership, and the world of work. Each of these areas covers a very wide range of activities that children and young people can enjoy doing. In developing key character traits, research suggests that high-quality delivery of the 5 foundations should take a structured approach, occur over a sustained period of time, and be self-directed by the child or young person. Through the support of teachers, coaches or other professionals, children and young people are more likely to receive a higher level of challenge and develop the traits that can help them achieve their goals.Play can provide benefits to children and young people through physical activity and promotion of wellbeing, but the audit of the availability of out-of-school activities across the country does not currently include playing outside as that activity does not provide the structured and high quality elements that are required in character building activities as proposed in the 5 Foundations for Building Character.

Ministry of Justice

Insurance Companies: Civil Proceedings

Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that greater numbers of insurance cases are resolved before they reach court proceedings.

Paul Maynard: The vast majority of claims against insurers in the civil justice system settle before court proceedings stage, as reflected in the statistics published by the Compensation Recovery Unit. Settlements are a matter for the parties to an individual dispute to reach agreement on, but the Government seeks to promote pre-court settlement – for example by the development of pre-action protocols. In terms of road traffic accident related personal injury claims under £5,000, the Government is introducing a new IT Platform, in April 2020, which will enable such claimants to communicate effectively with the at-fault insurer to efficiently progress and settle their claim during the pre-action stage without the need for court proceedings.

Personal Injury: Compensation

Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to establish an ombudsman with legal powers to enforce decisions on third party personal injury claims before court proceedings are initiated.

Paul Maynard: The Government has no plans to bring forward such proposals.It is for parties to personal injury claims to resolve their differences in the first instance, making use of pre-action protocols which put in place procedures designed to encourage earlier resolution of disputes. Currently there is a portal for lower value road traffic accident (RTA), public liability and employer liability claims which assists in achieving settlement of disputes. In addition, the Government is introducing a new IT Platform, in April 2020, which will enable RTA claimants to communicate effectively with the at-fault insurer to progress and settle their claim during the pre-action stage. Where disputes cannot be resolved by these means, the claimant has the option to pursue court proceedings.

Ministry of Justice: Brexit

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many officials in his Department have been seconded away from their normal duties to work on the UK's withdrawal from the EU; and what effect that secondment of staff has had on the effectiveness of his Department.

Edward Argar: Departments continually review workforce plans, reprioritise and assess changing needs, which includes identification and cessation of non-priority work where appropriate. We have accelerated our plans, and at the same time, the Civil Service as a whole is working to ensure that EU Exit Implementation is carried out to high quality without impacting public service delivery across the whole of government. 39 Ministry of Justice staff were seconded to work in other departments from December 2018 as part of the no-deal preparations co-ordinated by Cabinet Office. 34 staff have since returned, with extensions agreed for the remaining 5 staff. Between January and April 2019, 62 Ministry of Justice staff volunteered to work in the MoJ Departmental Operations Centre (DOC) to assist with no deal preparations. These volunteers worked a small number of shifts in the DOC and were chosen from different teams across the department to minimise any disruption to business as usual work.

Cremation Act 1902

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to make an assessment of the effectiveness of the provisions in the Cremation Act 1902; and if he will make a statement.

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the merits of the Cremation Act (1902).

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of whether crematoriums are being constructed (a) less than two hundred yards from a dwelling house, (b) within fifty yards of a public highway and (c) in the consecrated part of a local authority burial ground.

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times Section 5 of the Cremation Act (1902) has been invoked to reject a planning application in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Maynard: The Ministry of Justice is defending an application for permission in judicial review by the owners of a proposed crematorium, challenging our decision not to appoint a medical referee to the crematorium while it remains in breach of the provisions of section 5 of the Cremation Act 1902. It would be inappropriate for Ministers to comment on issues relating to this matter during the course of litigation.

Ministry of Defence

HMS Victory

Sir Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons the wreck of HMS Victory was gifted to the Maritime Heritage Foundation.

Mark Lancaster: Following a 2011 report on the public consultation in relation to potential options for the management of the HMS VICTORY 1744 wreck site, it was decided to place responsibility for the future management of the site with a charitable trust.In 2012, the Maritime Heritage Foundation was considered to be suitable for the management of the site.

Trident Missiles

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the United Kingdom’s Future Nuclear Deterrent: The Dreadnought Programme 2017 Update to Parliament published 20 December 2017, what the procedure will be for taking the decision on replacing the warhead in this Parliament; if she will make it her policy for there to be a vote in Parliament on the decision; and if she will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt: As set out in the 2017 and 2018 updates to Parliament, work is continuing to refine options and technical solutions to inform the Government's decision on replacing the warhead. We will continue to provide updates as appropriate.

New Zealand: Military Alliances

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps she is taking to build defence and security co-operation with New Zealand.

Mark Lancaster: New Zealand is a close defence partner. We work together on operations and defence capabilities, including the P8 Poseidon, while maintaining regular exchanges of personnel. HMS Montrose visited Auckland in January 2019. This relationship is further underpinned by regular meetings between senior officers and officials. We are also partners under the Five Power Defence Arrangements and as part of the Five Eyes Community.

Department for Work and Pensions

Homelessness

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the report entitled The Homelessness Monitor: England 2019 published by Crisis and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, what recent assessment he has made of the correlation between the freeze in local housing allowance and the increase in homelessness.

Will Quince: No such assessment has been made. There are many factors that contribute to homelessness, and these factors are varied and complex.

Department for Work and Pensions: Brexit

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many officials in her Department have been seconded away from their normal duties to work on the UK's withdrawal from the EU; and what effect that secondment of staff has had on the effectiveness of her Department.

Will Quince: The Department for Work and Pensions have transferred/assigned 127 volunteers to other departments to support EU Exit related work, to date 125 have returned. The remaining 2 volunteers will continue to support another department with EU Policy related activity until June/July 2019. All assignments are carefully planned and as such there has been no impact on the Department’s effectiveness.

State Retirement Pensions

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many state pension forecasts have been revised down after people have raised discrepancies with their statements in each of the last five years.

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure the accuracy of state pension forecasts.

Guy Opperman: State Pension Forecasts are based on the National Insurance record at the time the State Pension Forecast is produced. If the National Insurance record changes subsequently this will affect the forecast. The DWP does not hold data in relation to changes to State Pension Forecasts following discrepancies being raised by customers. Where discrepancies are identified the DWP refers to HMRC for investigation.

Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on issuing guidance to landlords who wish to rent to tenants who receive universal credit.

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many landlords are not able to rent to tenants who receive universal credit because of their landlord insurance policies.

Will Quince: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has regular dialogue with other Secretary of States in the course of normal ministerial business, which includes discussion surrounding aspects of Universal Credit.The Department maintains guidance on GOV.UK, relevant for private and social sector landlords, with information about Universal Credit. This helps landlords to understand what they can do to help their tenants prepare for: a) their move to Universal Credit and b) making payments of their housing costs (rent) direct to their landlord themselves. This can be accessed at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-rented-housing--2/universal-credit-and-rented-housing-guide-for-landlords The Government does not collect data on how many landlords are not able to rent to tenants who receive universal credit because of their landlord insurance policies.

Social Security Benefits

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2019 to Question 254839 on Social Security Benefits, whether claimants of (a) personal independence payments and (b) employment and support allowance whose claims were subject to a review by her Department's Quality Team are entitled to access any feedback on their claim from Quality Team reviewers.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department has one quality team who check all benefits, any feedback from this team, on individual claims, can be requested through a Right to Access Request.

Children: Maintenance: Motherwell and Wishaw

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) liability and (b) deduction from earnings orders have been issued in the Motherwell and Wishaw constituency in each year for which information is available.

Will Quince: This question had been interpreted as relating to actions taken by the Child Maintenance Service. The information requested regarding liability orders is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. The exact information requested regarding deduction from earning orders issued is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. However, you may find the following table useful: this provides the number of paying parents on the Child Maintenance Service Collect & Pay service who, at the end of each calendar quarter:were paying Child Maintenance via a Deduction from Earnings order; andhad an address in the Motherwell and Wishaw constituency. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5. Quarter EndingPaying ParentsMar-1745Jun-1745Sep-1745Dec-1750Mar-1860Jun-1880Sep-1880Dec-1880

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Greyhounds: China

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the accuracy of reports that UK-born and trained greyhounds are being kept in poor conditions for breeding in China; whether his Department has plans to prevent the future export of greyhounds from the UK to China; and if he will make a statement.

David Rutley: The Government takes the welfare of all racing animals very seriously, including once their racing careers have ended. The Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA), which grants certification for the commercial exports of dogs and records information regarding the commercial movement of animals, has confirmed that they do not have any records of greyhounds being exported to China for commercial purposes during 2017 or 2018. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain have made clear that they do not support the export of greyhounds to countries where welfare standards cannot be verified. They keep records of all dogs running and once a dog is retired the owner or trainer is required to state where the dog will be relocated to.

Department for International Trade

Poultry Meat: USA

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the compatibility with the rules of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade of a restriction in a trade agreement with the US on the import into the UK of poultry washed with (i) chlorine and (ii) other disinfectants.

George Hollingbery: Where a measure conforms with the provisions of the Agreement to the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) it is presumed to also conform with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade under Article 2.4 of the SPS Agreement. The existing food safety provisions regarding chlorine and other pathogen reduction treatments for poultry will be transferred into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act.